United Ireland soccer associations / national team

[Eamonnca1]

Thought experiment: What would be involved in reuniting soccer in Ireland under a single governing body with a single national team? 

More soccer uptake in the north among nationalists? More nationalist-minded clubs forming in the north and getting voting rights in the IFA?   Better community relations so that nationalists would feel safe attending games in unionist areas and vice versa? Better community relations so that working class unionists would get behind an all-Ireland team the same way unionists support the all-Ireland rugby team?  Would the FAI clubs have anything to gain from going back under the rubric of the IFA? Would the two domestic leagues be improved if they were merged into a bigger league?

What are the obstacles?  What would need to happen to overcome them?

Please try to keep the usual "it will never happen" posts to a minimum, we've heard them all before and they add nothing new to the discussion. This is a thought experiment about how we could actually achieve this. I'd be interested in hearing from people with more knowledge of the internal politics of either of the two soccer associations.

[armaghniac]

Without trying to derail the thread, the most likely cause of this would be FIFA throwing out the multiple UK associations; as quite apart from national identity issues there are blazer jobs to be had.

[Hereiam]

Has it ever happened before.

[bennydorano]

Big enough brown envelopes & it's a goer

[T Fearon]

Soccer is already well uptaken in the North by nationalists,and the game progressed with relatively few isolated incidents right through the troubles,with teams from prod and taig areas playing each other in each other's areas.

With the relative success of both sides currently and both in their own new stadia a United Ireland team has never been less likely.The influx of cash from qualification will keep both sets of suits and fans happy (assuming the southern brethren make it to France) and this,along with supporter contentment success and therefore with the status quo,reduces any argument for unity.

The IFA team currently has has a catholic manager,a Catholic heading up the organisation and a Catholic in charge of its marketing and PR.

[rrhf]

Good article in yesterday's times. Rather than representing 2 different countries the teams represents 2 different cultures. As Tony said factor in the separate money earning capacity and a shitty enough sport with dubious principles and ethics throughout you don't really have a desire to bring the two franchises together for any potential greater good.

[Rossfan]

The IFA team currently has has a catholic manager,a Catholic heading up the organisation and a Catholic in charge of its marketing and PR.

Yet remains a totally British/Unionist oriented organisation.

[rodney trotter]

Not going to happen. The success of Nothern Ireland could also lead to less Catholics from the North declaring for the Republic in the future as well

[T Fearon]

Nothing wrong with teams representing different cultures,Celtic and Rangers always have done as long as they are inclusive and non sectarian.

[From the Bunker]

If we'd lose Amhrain na bhiann. If we'd feel awkward about Tri-coulour. If we'd have probably 2 players making the team from the north for these sacrifices. Then I'd say what's the point? It works well the way it is?

[T Fearon]

No persuasive argument at the moment.Current status means that most likely the entire Derby Co first team squad will be getting a bus man's holiday in France next summer

[BennyCake]

I think the PUL-dominated support for the NI team are happy to have it how it is, as it mirrors what they want (and had for decades) in the North as a whole - a unionist-dominated political/cultural entity with no Nationalist/Catholic input.

Let them have their team. It baffles me why any Northern catholic would have any interest or support for them.

[imtommygunn]

Nothing wrong with teams representing different cultures,Celtic and Rangers always have done as long as they are inclusive and non sectarian.

It's supposed to be a "nation" though...

Slightly different from a club team.

[Eamonnca1]

Without trying to derail the thread, the most likely cause of this would be FIFA throwing out the multiple UK associations; as quite apart from national identity issues there are blazer jobs to be had.

Not sure how they could do that since those four are the originals and have a lot of voting strength on the International Football Board.

[Eamonnca1]

Soccer is already well uptaken in the North by nationalists,and the game progressed with relatively few isolated incidents right through the troubles,with teams from prod and taig areas playing each other in each other's areas.

With the relative success of both sides currently and both in their own new stadia a United Ireland team has never been less likely.The influx of cash from qualification will keep both sets of suits and fans happy (assuming the southern brethren make it to France) and this,along with supporter contentment success and therefore with the status quo,reduces any argument for unity.

The IFA team currently has has a catholic manager,a Catholic heading up the organisation and a Catholic in charge of its marketing and PR.

Interesting. So how does the IFA work then? Is it like a GAA county board where clubs do the voting? Do clubs higher up the ladder have more voting strength or is it one-club-one-vote?